Movie nights are one of my favorite pastimes with my husband and kids. When the kids were younger, they were a regular occurrence most Saturday nights, with lots of time spent carefully deliberating what to watch during the weekdays. The most memorable movie nights for me were, of course, when they chose a Walt Disney Pictures film. Those evenings tended to take on a life all their own – because what could be better than a Disney movie night, but to make a whole event out of it?! We love a good theme in our house, and when we knew a Disney movie was on the horizon, we’d build our entire evening around it with fun snacks and drinks inspired by our film of choice.
Walt Disney’s Peter Pan has the honor of being our first-ever themed movie night. Peter Pan is a huge family favorite, and we had a great time brainstorming possibilities for our dinner menu. We had no shortage of ideas, but ultimately decided on the following:
Pirate Booty – What better treat to snack on while preparing our Peter Pan-inspired dinner than these pirate-approved crunchy white cheddar puffs?
Fruit Swords – It wouldn’t be a Peter Pan movie night in our house without a few proper sword fights, and we figured why not make edible swords as well? Add a wedge of cantaloupe or honeydew to a bamboo skewer first, and then follow with an assortment of other fruits.
“Jolly Roger” Pizza Boats – Our main course was a nod to Captain Hook’s ship and was very simple to put together.
- Cut a loaf of french bread in half lengthwise.
- Place the bread on a baking sheet, cut side up, and spread your favorite pizza sauce across the tops. Add shredded cheese and toppings.
- Bake in a 450-degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is slightly browned and bubbling.
- Cut into desired number of pieces, and enjoy! (And if you’re feeling extra ambitious, decorate a sail for your Jolly Roger for a little added flair.)
Golden Treasure – Nothing special here but buttered corn with a fancy name!
Cannon Balls – This sweet ending to our Peter Pan-themed evening was also a cinch to make!
- Place Oreo cookies in a food processor or blender, and pulse them until they are crushed. Pour the crushed Oreos into a separate bowl and set aside.
- Scoop your choice of ice cream with a large ice cream scooper, and roll each scoop around the bowl of crushed Oreos until the ice cream is thoroughly covered.
- Carefully place each Cannon Ball on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and keep the tray in the freezer until ready to serve.
I am thrilled to say that our Peter Pan movie night was a huge success, and it wasn’t long before the kids were requesting another evening just like it. We’ve since enjoyed countless Disney movie nights, and have had so much fun along the way with each one. I can’t wait to share them all – stay tuned!
